Fogbows and Brocken Spectres: A frosty morning on Ramsgate Main Sands

Some mornings feel like stepping into a dream and today was one of them. I went to bed to see a deep frost had descended and set my alarm to be up before sunrise for a walk to Ramsgate Main Sands. The whole of Ramsgate was blanketed in frost so thick it looked like snow, I was in my subzero loving element and was taking photos of our walk into town. On our way home, I looked up and yelled ‘fogbow’ and Mark said ‘good spot’ and my next words were ‘I have to drone’! Because the atmospheric conditions had lined up to see one of nature’s rarest and most enchanting displays. As the sun rose, the dense fog revealed not just a stunning fogbow but also a breathtaking Brocken Spectre appeared around the shadow of my drone as I explored the wild edges from above.

What a time to be alive, witnessing these ethereal phenomena unfold, day after day, during this incredible cold snap.

What is a fogbow?

A fogbow, sometimes called a white rainbow or ghost rainbow, is similar to a rainbow but with a twist. Instead of vivid colours, fogbows appear as pale, almost translucent arcs caused by sunlight refracting through tiny water droplets in fog or mist. Their delicate, otherworldly appearance makes them feel like they belong to the liminal space between reality and magick. I have only ever seen one once in Iceland and never thought I’d witness one in the south of the UK!

Standing on Ramsgate’s frosty sands, the fogbow stretched across the sky, a soft halo of subtle light. It felt like stepping into a portal, a quiet reminder of the wonder that exists in these liminal moments as we immerse ourselves in nature.

What Is a Brocken Spectre?

A Brocken spectre is another rare phenomenon, often seen from high vantage points when your shadow is cast onto mist or clouds, surrounded by a halo of light. Today, as I flew my drone to capture the fogbow, the rising sun illuminated was refracted around my drone and it painted the rays of light into the fog, creating the perfect Brocken spectre. My drone became the shadowy figure at the centre of this ethereal circle, an awe-inspiring sight I only realised I’d captured when I started to edit the footage.

A week of rare weather phenomena in Kent & Sussex

I have to be honest, my heart lives for moments like this. These liminal spaces are where the dopamine is. To experience them every so often, to me is like finding a penny on the floor out in the street. It is so unexpected and brings such an amazing feeling with it. To have experienced rare weather phenomenon three days in a row, has made me feel rather giddy and I always want to share about these things quickly, to share natures messages so that others might get a chance to witness them if these cold conditions continue. I’ve been non stop, shooting, editing the photos and videos and writing these posts. This to me is where my passion and purpose align and it always brings me so much joy to share like this. So far this week, the biting cold has brought extraordinary moments:

• Camber Sands’ sea smoke: Just a few days ago, I watched as the sea evaporated into the air, creating a surreal veil of sea smoke that danced along the horizon, lit a fiery orange by the rising sun. See the sea rise here.
• Broadstairs’ Advection fog cascading off the cliffs: Yesterday’s fog mimicked orographic fog, rolling off the cliffs like a waterfall, a natural performance of light and shadow. See it for yourself here.
• Ramsgate’s fogbow and Brocken Spectre: The frozen lands of Ramsgate, combined with the rising sun and dense fog, created a scene that felt both ephemeral and eternal.

Each moment has been fleeting, vanishing as quickly as it arrived, as though nature was whispering, “If you open your heart and immerse without agenda; these gifts are for you.”

Liminal moments on the Wild Edges

This morning’s phenomena were a reminder of the liminal spaces I cherish, the wild edges where nature’s rhythms and magick collide. Fogbows and Brocken spectres are perfect metaphors for these in-between spaces: fleeting, elusive, and deeply humbling to witness even one of them – but both together – just wow!

As I write this, less than an hour later, the fog has cleared. The frost is rapidly melting in the glow of the sun and the magick of the fogbow has dissolved into memory. It’s a lesson in impermanence, an invitation to embrace the moment fully because once it’s gone, it’s gone.

Capturing magick through the lens

Moments like these are why I’m drawn to photography and storytelling. Today, flying my drone revealed the stunning interplay of light, fog and frost that transformed an ordinary walk into something extraordinary. If only my drone had a wider lens, it was almost impossible to capture the entire fogbow and Brocken spectre in their full glory. But perhaps that’s part of the magick. Not everything can, or should, be captured with ease. Some things are meant to be felt first.

A frosty reminder

Nature’s rarest displays often occur when we least expect them, hidden in the quiet moments of icy mornings and mysterious fog. This week has been a gift, each day unveiling phenomena that feel like treasures from another world.

What a time to be alive, standing on frosted sands as the fog lifts to reveal the wild beauty of our world, reminding us of the magick that exists if we only stop to look.

Have you ever seen a fogbow or Brocken spectre? Share your stories of rare weather moments below, I’d love to hear about the magick you’ve witnessed!